Automatic bag feed system

ABSTRACT

An automatic bag feeding system in which a number of bags are superposed in a bag reservoir and then one sheet of bag is raised vertically by a first pneumatic adsorption means, the raised bag is carried in suspension by a second pneumatic adsorption means to a position confronting to an outlet of a filling spout of a packaging apparatus and thereafter a bag inlet is opened by a third pneumatic adsorption means for insertion to the filling spout.

O Y United States Patent 1191 3,

Obara Jan. 15, 1974 [54] AUTOMATIC BAG FEED SYSTEM 2,684,191 7/1954 Dolman 1 53/386 X [76] Inventor: Katsuji Obara, No 2233 42, 3,522,691 8/1970 Adcox 53/188 X Minami Tsunashima-cho Kohoku-ku Yokohama Japan Primary Examiner-Peter Feldman [22] F1 d A 26 1972 Assistant Examiner-Phil1p R. Coe 1e: pr.

21 A N .1 6 l 1 ppl 0 57 ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Dam An automatic bag feeding system in which a number of bags are superposed in a bag reservoir and then one I Apr. 28, 1971 Japan 46/27500 eet of ag s raised erticauy by a first pneumat c [52] U S Cu I 141/114 141/166 adsorption means, the raised bag is carried in suspen- [51 1 1 43/44 sion by a second pneumatic adsorption means to a po- [58] w O 114 166 sition confronting to an outlet of a filling spout of a 17 5 packaging apparatus and thereafter a bag inlet is opened by a third pneumatic adsorption means for in- 56] References Cited sertion to the filling spout.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 3,423,903 1/1969 Miller 141/315 X PATENIE JAN 1 519M SHhU 1 [1f 2 BAG STANDING OPENING 'IRANSFERRING BAG INLET SUSPENSION BAG IN MOVING BAG RAISING BAGS SUPERPOSING BAGS VERTICALLY INSERT ING BAG INLY 1" TO FILLING SPOUT BJBEAIA PATENIEI] JAN 1 5 I974 SHEET 2 OF 2 1 AUTOMATIC BAG FEED SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an automatic bag feeding system particularly for use in the apparatus for powdery products such as carbon black, starch, wheat flour, fly ash, powdered synthetic resin, diatomaceous earth, fertilizer and other chemical by-products.

Hitherto, various methods and devices for automatically feeding bags have been proposed. However, such methods and devices are merely applicable to the packer of the type wherein the powdery product is thrown by gravity from the hopper scale into an inlet of the bag which has been brought seriatim to a position for filling of the powdery product through the inlet being previously opened.

In the packaging operation of the devices as indicated, the bag feeding capacity .is restricted and the dust is leaked to pollute the working environment.

Recently, use is made of an automatic packaging apparatus for powdery product for example as disclosed in the US Pat. No. 3,578,041 in which such product is fluidized in an air chamber and delivered by air stream to a filling means associated with a receiving bag having a valve inlet such as an internal valve or an external valve. The valve inlet is usually of less diameter and requires an accurate operation for insertion of the valve inlet to the filling spout of the packaging apparatus which can not be accomplished by the conventional bag feeding system in which an insertion of the valve inlet to the filling spout of the packaging apparatus has been manually effected with loss of efficiency and inconveniency. 1

After many intensive studies to improve the disadvantages and difficulties of the conventional system, the inventor has contrived a new bag feeding system wherein a bag is suspended and carried by a pneumatic adsorption means including an aircylinder and suction pipes and then a valve inlet is automatically opened by another pneumatic adsorption means for smooth insertion to the filling spout of the packaging apparatus.

In accordance with thepresent invention, the bag feed is effected in such a way that a number of bags are superposed in a bag reservoir and then one sheet of bag is raised vertically by a first pneumatic adsorption means, that the raised bag is carried by a second turnable adsorption means to a position confronting to an outlet of the filling spout, thereafter a valve inlet of the bag is embraced by a third pneumatic adsorption means to open the bag inlet for insertion to the filling spout of the packaging apparatus thereby ensuring a continuous and quick feeding of numerous bags with stable operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, a general object of the invention to provide an automatic system for'feeding bags continuously to the powdery product packaging apparatus with quick and stable operation.

A principle object of the present invention is to provide an automatic bag feeding apparatus which comprises a reservoir for superposing a number of bags therein, a first pneumatic adsorption means for raising one sheet of bag vertically, a second pneumatic adsorption means for transferring raised bag to a position confronting to an outlet of the filling spout of the packaging apparatus and a third pneumatic adsorption means for opening an inlet of the bag for insertion to the filling spout of the packaging apparatus.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will become readily apparent and be understood from the following description and the accompanying drawings in which the same reference numerals designate the same or similar parts throughout the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of-the bag feeding process in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the bag feeding mechanism in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 3 is a lateral view of the bag reservoir for receiving a number of bags superposed therein;

FIG. 4 is a lateral view of the bag lifting mechanism associated with the bag reservoir;

FIG. 5 (a)-(d) is a pictorial v-iew illustrative of the operation of opening of an inlet of the bag;

FIG. 6 (a)-(d) is a pictorial view illustrative of the operation of opening of the bag inlet according to another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 7 is a pictorial view illustrative of an embodiment of arrangement of the apparatus according to the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In FIG. 1, the bag feeding process in accordance with the present invention is illustrated by the block diagram.

At first, a number of bags having valveinlets are superposed in the bag reservoir. One sheet of bag is then taken up by the first pneumatic adsorption means to raise the bag vertically. Subsequently, the raised bag is transferred by the second pneumatic adsorption means to a position confronting to an outlet of the filling spout of the packaging apparatus. Thereafter, the valve inlet of the bag is opened by the third pneumatic adsorption means while being moved for insertion to the filling spout of the packaging apparatus. These operations may be carried out in series by providing a sequence circuit in cooperation with a limit switch and an air cylinder.

In FIGS. 2 and 4, the reference numeral 10 designates a bag reservoir in which a number of bags 12, e.g., 200 bags, are accumulatedhorizontally. Air pipes 14, 14 are disposed in abuting relation with the bag reservoir 10 to provide a first pneumatic bag adsorption means 16 which is turnable around a pivot 18 by means of an air-cylinder 20 thereby to raise the bag 12 vertically.

As illustrated with reference to FIG. I, the raised bag 12 is carried in suspension by the second pneumatic adsorption means 22 comprising a suction manifold and driven by an electric motor 24 to a position A confronting to an outlet of the filling spout 26 of the packaging apparatus (not shown) wherein an inlet 28 extending along an upper end of the bag 12 is opened by a third pneumatic adsorption means 30 for insertion of the bag inlet 28 to the filling spout 26 after some movement from the position A.

The third pneumatic adsorption means 30 comprises a pair of suction manifolds 32, 32which are relatively positioned and connected by an air-cylinder 34. The suction manifolds 32, 32 embrace the valve inlet 28 by an actuation of the air-cylinder 34 and are moved toward opposite directions with opening of the bag inlet 28 under the pneumatic adsorption.

The third pneumatic adsorption means 30 with suction manifolds 32 hanging the bag 12 is moved toward the packaging apparatus for insertion of the bag inlet 28 into the filling spout 26 of the packer.

After insertion of the valve inlet 28 of the bag 12 to the filling spout 26, the adsorption of the bag inlet by suction manifolds 32, 32 is released and then the third pneumatic adsorption means 30 is returned to its original position. Thus, the operations are cycled to provide a sequential bag feeding process for the packaging apparatus.

In another embodiment, the bag 12 carried by the second pneumatic adsorption means 22 is dropped into a bag support 36 disposed in parallel with the filling spout 26. The bag support 36 is formed of a single plate which is bent symmetrically to form a U-shaped casing to accommodate the bag 12 in standing so that the bag 12 before insertion into the filling spout is always placed in parallel with the filling spout 26 for enabling a smooth and accurate insertion of the bag inlet into the filling spout.

The valve type bags preferably available to the process in accordance with the present invention includes symmetrically sewed bag, pasted angular bottom bag, polyethylene film bag, polyethylene film lined or laminated bag. it will be appreciated that when those bags are superposed each top and bottom end portion of the superposed bags has a greater thickness than the middle portion of the superposed bags as best shown in FIG. 3 which disturbs a desired adsorption of the bag by the first pneumatic adsorption means 16 because of the inclined surface of the bag.

To improve the disadvantages as indicated, the present invention provides a lifting means 38 which includes a seat arm 40 supported at its one end by a threaded shaft 42 in an elevatable relation and a lifting member 44 connected at its lower end to a threaded shaft 46 in an elevatable relation and adapted at its opposite top end to lift a middle portion of the superposed bags so that the top surface of the bag is always maintained in flat as shown in FIG. 4. The lifting member 44 is moved upwardly in proportion to an elevation of the seat arm 40 although a rate of 'movement of the former is somewhat retarded than that of the latter. The threaded shafts 42 and 46 are revolved by an electric motor 48 through the gears 50 and 52 arranged at the bottom of each threaded shafts.

It will be appreciated that the bags of polyethylene film when superposed does not provide a center cavity like the sewed bag as indicated so that the lifting means 38 is unnecessary.

The third pneumatic adsorption means is preferably modified in conformity with types and materials of the bag. For example, in case of the polyethylene film bag, the third pneumatic. adsorption means is preferably comprised of two suction manifolds 32, 32 of substantially U-shape and relatively positioned in connection through the air-cylinder 34 so as to embrace the valve inlet extending along the top end of the bag by an actuation of the air-cylinder 34. The suction manifolds 32, 32 are then moved to opposite directions with each other thereby to openthe valve inlet 28 while suspending the bag and the third pneumatic adsorption means with the bag in suspension is moved toward the packaging apparatus for insertion of the bag inlet to the filling spout of the packaging apparatus as illustrated in FIG. 5 (a)-(d). In this embodiment, the bag support 36 is not used and an adsorption by the second pneumatic adsorption means and that by the third pneumatic adsorption means are overlapped for a given interval to prevent the bag from falling down.

On the other hand, in case of the pasted angular bottom bag, the pneumatic adsorption means is preferably comprised of a single suction pipe 54 extending vertically and two relatively positioned rod push members 56, 56 which extend horizontally and are provided at their ends with substantially V-shaped recesses 58, 58 and all members are actuated by an air-cylinder. In this embodiment, the bag stands vertically in the support casing 36 and the valve inlet 28 extending along the upper end of the bag 12 is closed in flat. In opening operation of the bag inlet 28, the suction pipe 54 is placed on the flat surface of the bag inlet 28 for adsorption and then the suction pipe 54 is moved back while each side of the bag inlet being embraced by two push rod members 56, 56 thereby to open the bag inlet 28 as best shown in FIG. 6 (a)-(d).

The bag feeding apparatus in accordance with the present invention is installed in 'movable along the rail track 60 so that only a single unit'of the bag feeder 62 may be applicable to a number of packaging apparatus having a plurality of filling spouts with sequential packaging operation as shown in FIG. 7.

All the pneumatic arrangements used in the present invention may be readily actuated by the operations of the limit switch, the air-cylinder and the electric motor.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated by way of example in the drawings and particularly described, it will be understood that various modifications may be made in the apparatuses and constructions and that the invention is no way limited to the embodiments shown.

I claim:

1. An automatic bag feeding apparatus which comprises a reservoir for receiving a number of bags therein in superposition, a first pneumatic adsorption means for raising one bag perpendicularly, a second pneumatic adsorption means for transferring the raised bags to a position confronting to an outlet of the filling spout of a packaging apparatus, a support casing in confronting relation to the filling spout outlet of a packaging apparatus and into which is dropped said bag on transfer thereto by the second pneumatic adsorption means, and a third pneumatic adsorption means for opening an inlet of the bag for insertion to the filling spout of the packaging apparatus, said third pneumatic adsorption means comprising a vertical suction pipe for adsorbing a flat surface of the bag inlet and two relatively positioned rod members for pushing each side of the bag inlet.

2. An automatic bag feeding apparatus which comprises a reservoir for receiving a number of bags therein in superposition, a first pneumatic adsorption means for raising one bag perpendicularly, a second pneumatic adsorption means for transferring the raised bag to a position confronting to an outlet of a filling spout of a packaging apparatus, and a third pneumatic adsorption means for opening an inlet of the bag for insertion to the filling spout of the packaging apparatus, said bag reservoir being associated with a lifting means for maintaining the top surface of the superposed bags in a substantially horizontal plane, said lifting means com- 3 ,7 85 ,4 1 4 5 6 prising a horizontal seat armfor receiving the bag and ber being revolved by an electric motor through gears. supported at its one end by a vertical threaded shaft in an elevated relation and a verticalrod member for Iifttron of the rod member is retarded in relation to that mg a middle portion of the superposed bags and connected at its lower end to a vertical threaded shaft in 5 of the seat an elevated relation, said threaded shaft and rod mem- 3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein eleva- 

1. An automatic bag feeding apparatus which comprises a reservoir for receiving a number of bags therein in superposition, a first pneumatic adsorption means for raising one bag perpendicularly, a second pneumatic adsorption means for transferring the raised bag to a position confronting to an outlet of the filling spout of a packaging apparatus, a support casing in confronting relation to the filling spout outlet of a packaging apparatus and into which is dropped said bag on transfer thereto by the second pneumatic adsorption means, and a third pneumatic adsorption means for opening an inlet of the bag for insertion to the filling spout of the packaging apparatus, said third pneumatic adsorption means comprising a vertical suction pipe for adsorbing a flat surface of the bag inlet and two relatively positioned rod members for pushing each side of the bag inlet.
 2. An automatic bag feeding apparatus which comprises a reservoir for receiving a number of bags therein in superposition, a first pneumatic adsorption means for raising one bag perpendicularly, a second pneumatic adsorption means for transferring the raised bag to a position confronting to an outlet of a filling spout of a packaging apparatus, and a third pneumatic adsorption means for opening an inlet of the bag for insertion to the filling spout of the packaging apparatus, said bag reservoir being associated with a lifting means for maintaining the top surface of the superposed bags in a substantially horizontal plane, said lifting means comprising a horizontal seat arm for receiving the bag and supported at its one end by a vertical threaded shaft in an elevated relation and a vertical rod member for lifting a middle portion of the superposed bags and connected at its lower end to a vertical threaded shaft in an elevated relation, said threaded shaft and rod member being revolved by an electric motor through gears.
 3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein elevation of the rod member is retarded in relation to that of the seat arm. 